Shubhabrata Dutta
Directed by Ron Oliver, Hallmark’s romantic drama ‘To Barcelona, With Love’ is the first part of the ‘To Barcelona’ duology. The story centers on Erica, who is a book translator residing in Barcelona. Her latest Spanish translation of Anna’s book ‘Barcelona, Mi Amor’ has garnered a lot of praise and has led local bookstore owner Nico to invite Anna to the city for a book signing event. What Anna doesn’t know is that Erica has secretly embellished the novel in her own style to make it more regionally authentic. Anna’s arrival not only poses a threat to this secret, but also her attraction to Nico complicates matters for Erica, who has also been growing feelings for him for a long time. As the two women get along, the viewers are provided with a heartwarming story of what true happiness feels like. In keeping with the film’s theme, the visuals showcase the setting in a picturesque manner.
Where Was To Barcelona With Love Filmed?
‘To Barcelona, With Love’ is set in Spain and was filmed entirely there as well, specifically in Barcelona and Bilbao. Principal photography reportedly took place over three weeks in March 2025, the traditional schedule for Hallmark projects. “We were basically trying to do the same thing we do at home, but in Spain. So it was a lot of extra sort of moving parts for us,” actress Alison Sweeney, who plays Erica, told AOL. Director Ron Oliver had to show the entirely new local Spanish crew what filming a Hallmark movie is all about and ensure that, despite being shot in a different country, it carries the streaming giant’s magical touch. Speaking about the local crew and how great they were, Ashley Williams, who plays Anna, told People how she “was worried about language barriers and different shooting styles. But I have to tell you, I would go anywhere with this crew. They were so hardworking, kind, funny, smart, and professional. I miss each one of them. I want to bring them more movies so we can do it all again!”
Barcelona, Spain
Barcelona, the capital city of the autonomous community of Catalonia, became the base for the production. Since the events in the movie take place around Sant Jordi Day, AKA Saint George’s Day, the crew resorted to small alleys that were then dressed in festive banners and signs. You can also spot real food stalls in the backdrops in several outdoor shots. Shooting took place in March, while Saint George’s Day is celebrated in April, to maintain the budget. Many sequences were recorded in marketplaces. “Spanish people (were) coming to get their food for dinner that night, and they’re just suddenly in the middle of our scene…It was partly, you know, the budget constraint, but that meant that we were able to bring the liveliness of the city into the movie. So you could feel the energy,” Williams told AOL.
The crew reportedly accessed La Rambla, a very popular street in central Barcelona, to incorporate the city’s lively spirit in the movie. It is a go-to street for tourists from all over the world and is filled with eateries and markets, including the La Boqueria market. A few sequences were lensed in the area near the Sagrada Familia, a large and iconic Catholic church located at 401 Carrer de Mallorca. Designed by architect Antoni Gaudí, construction of the church began in 1882 but remains unfinished.
Some scenes were reportedly lensed at Parc De La Barcelonetta, located at 15, Passeig Marítim de la Barceloneta in the neighborhood Ciutat Vella. The park is known for the scenic views of the Mediterranean Sea and was seemingly chosen to add contrast to the visual aesthetic. A few scenes were taped in gondolas, another element used to highlight the Spanish aesthetic. “We only had the amount of time it took to get from the launch point to the midway point before the jostling of the machinery would make the take unusable. It was fun to work with such unique conditions,” Sweeney told People. “The views were unreal! One of those moments when we had the opportunity to get a real scope of the city of Barcelona. It is massive and absolutely beautiful,” Williams added. For all the outdoor shots, no zones or areas were closed off, and the director only hired around 10 people who provided retakes that were later matched and edited easily. Other projects shot in Barcelona include ‘The Lady’s Companion,’ ‘Vicky Cristina Barcelona,’ ‘Through My Window,’ and ‘Cites.’
Bilbao, Spain
Bilbao, located in the Biscay province in Spain’s Basque Country, became the setting for additional outdoor scenes. Known for its blend of urban and period architecture, the city is home to the Church of San Antón, St. James’ Cathedral, the Basilica of Begoña, the Arriaga Theatre, the Azkuna Zentroa, Isozaki Atea, and the neighborhood of Casco Viejo. For nature lovers, the city has over 18 parks, including the Doña Casilda Iturrizar Park, Europa Park, Etxeberria Park, and Miribilla Park. You can also go to Mount Artxanda, which is accessible via the Artxanda Funicular from the city center. Bilbao served as the backdrop for movies like ‘The Secret Life of Words,’ ‘Una vida no tan simple,’ ‘No controles,’ and ‘Bon appétit.’
To Barcelona, With Love Cast Details
The ‘Barcelona, With Love’ cast is led by the trio of Alison Sweeney, Ashley Williams, and Alejandro Tous. Alison is into philanthropy and supports many foundations, including Feeding America, Clothes Off Our Back, and Soles4Souls. She loves swimming, gymnastics, and kick-boxing, and is an avid avocado eater. Ashley is a certified birth companion, AKA doula, and has helped over 50 women give birth. She pitched the idea for Hallmark Media’s “Make Her Mark” initiative, a mentoring program for aspiring female filmmakers to shadow experienced directors so that they can direct movies in the future, too. The first recipient is Kay Crystal Lowe, who stars in the ‘Signed, Sealed, Delivered’ movies. Alejandro is a Spanish native, who wanted to become a veterinarian or a firefighter as a kid.
Alison Sweeney as Erica
Alison Sweeney plays Erica in ‘To Barcelona, With Love.’ She is primarily known for the portrayal of Sami Brady in ‘Days of Our Lives.’ She is a longtime Hallmark favorite and can be seen in ‘The Irresistible Blueberry Farm’ as Ellen Branford, in ‘The Wedding Veil‘ collection as Tracy Serchio, in the ‘Hannah Swensen Mystery’ collection as Hannah Swensen, and in the ‘Chronicle Mysteries’ collection as Alex McPherson. Her other Hallmark projects include ‘Love & Jane,’ ‘A Magical Christmas Village,’ ‘Time for Them to Come Home for Christmas,’ and ‘Good Morning Christmas!’
Ashley Williams as Anna
Ashley Williams plays Anna, the author, in the Hallmark production. Like Sweeney, she, too, is a familiar face in Hallmark movies. You can spot her as Meg Swift in the ‘Sister Swap’ collection, Natalie Calder in ‘Falling Together,’ Ellie Matthews in ‘Notes of Autumn,’ and Avery in ‘Jingle Bell Run.’ Some of her non-Hallmark projects are ‘Sister Wife Murder,’ where she plays Anna, ‘Amber Brown,’ where she can be seen as Pam, and ‘The Jim Gaffigan Show,’ where she plays Jeannie Gaffigan. Ashley is also widely recognized for her role as Victoria in ‘How I Met Your Mother.’
Alejandro Tous as Nico
Alejandro Tous plays Nico, the bookstall owner, in ‘To Barcelona, With Love.’ He has many Spanish-language shows to his credit, the most well-known among which are ‘L’Alqueria Blanca,’ where he plays Ramón, ‘Vida perfecta,’ where we see him portray Alex, and ‘Mentes en shock,’ where he can be spotted as León Robles. As far as feature films are concerned, his credits include ‘More the Merrier,’ ‘Vasy’s Odyssey,’ ‘Estándar,’ and ‘Fishbone.’
Joining Sweeney, Williams, and Tous is a talented bunch of additional cast, including Miguel Brocca as Javier, Carolina Garrido as Nina, and Raúl Yuste as a vendor.
